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course with the rest of the world, and how little they are beholden 
to strangers for improvement, we must regard them as an enlight- 
ened, polished, and independent people. 
That the heat of the torrid zone debilitates the body, and ener- 
vates the mind, is very obvious: to this cause may be attributed 
the want of curiosity, enterprize, and vigour, among the Malabars: 
their inclinations are chiefly passive; indolence constitutes their 
happiness, and you cannot impose a severer task than mental em- 
ployment: with the exception of the warlike Nairs, they pass days, 
months, and years, in swinging in their verandas, or under the 
shade of a tree, chewing betel, and singing dismal ditties, without 
a reflection on the past, or a plan for the future: from this habitual 
indolence they become incapable of exertion; and thus the laws, 
manners, and customs, are the same at this day as they were some 
thousand vears ago. 
There are, however, occasionally exceptions to this state of 
listless indolence among the Malabars: during my residence at An- 
jengo a circumstance occurred which would not have disgraced a 
Roman matron. The English were at war with the Marawars, a 
people inhabiting a mountainous country in the southern part of 
the peninsula: a considerable force from Madras was sent against 
them, who with great difficulty obtained a conquest: the obstacles 
chiefly arose from the wildness of the country, and the almost in- 
accessible fortresses to which the Morawars retreated, in the midst 
of thick forests and morasses; the rajah was killed in defending his 
last castle, whither lie had retired with his family and treasure: he 
expired in the arms of his wife; who immediately ordered one of 
the guards, as he valued his master’s honour, to stab her to the 
